May 17 Roxbury Park Field Trip + May 20 Edisto Island Open Land Trust Lecture

Saturday, May 17, 9 am – 12 pm: Field Trip to Roxbury Park

Tom Austin, Director of Land Conservation, Edisto Island Open Land Trust

Join Tom Austin for a guided nature walk through the Town of Meggett’s Roxbury Park, a 200-acre park with over 4,000 feet of frontage along Toogoodoo Creek. The property boasts a wide diversity of habitat types and a staggering biodiversity for its relatively small size. To date, over 500 species of plants and 1,000 species of animals and fungi have been documented on the property. A stroll below its mature upland forests, across its freshwater marsh, along the creek and ponds, or through its native wildflower plantings is almost certain to yield something surprising!  Registration is required here.

 The Lowcountry, particularly Charleston County, is one of the fastest-growing places in the US. To many of us who treasure the natural beauty of our coast, all hope may seem lost. But that’s far from the truth! SC is a nationwide leader in the land conservation arena. Overall, 42% of the land in Charleston County is already protected from intensive development and the County has the highest total area of protected private lands in the state. Edisto Island in particular is over 50% protected. Join our speaker, Tom Austin, for a brief overview of the history behind this achievement on Edisto Island and learn about your local land trusts spearheading the charge to push those figures even higher, and how we all can pitch in toward continued conservation success in the Lowcountry. 

Snacks will be provided during post-lecture socializing (BYO non-alcoholic beverage or water bottle).  Enter Duckett Hall from Jones Ave and go up the short steps to the Auditorium on your left. Free parking is available after 5:00 PM in the parking lot south of Richardson Street, accessible from Mims Ave.

Check out Tom Austin’s new book!  The Flora and Fauna of Edisto Island and the Lowcountry Sea Islands, published by Evening Post Books.  Purchase online or Tom will have copies available at both events.  More info here.

Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Outreach Events!  

The Lowcountry Chapter will be participating in several native-plant-related events this spring (see list below) and we need volunteers to help table at these events. It’s a great way to get involved with the chapter and meet community members who are learning about native plants. Tabling events are simple – we have a booth set up for a few hours (you don’t need to commit to the entire time frame) with information about the Society and our activities, and SCNPS merchandise. We would love to have some Lowcountry members represent us! If you’re interested in volunteering for an hour or two, please contact Paula Carr at lowcountry.outreach@scnps.org

• Saturday, May 10, 9 am – 1 pm: Old Santee Canal Native Plant Festival, 900 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner

• Saturday, May 17, 7:30 am – 5 pm: Bulls Bay Nature Festival, Sewee Visitor Center, 5821 North Highway 17, Awendaw

Check out our new SCNPS merchandise!  New t-shirt colors, hats, mugs, water bottles, stickers, hoodies, long-sleeved shirts, baby and toddler sizes!  https://scnps.org/shop/

July 16-19, 2025  The Cullowhee Native Plant Conference

Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC

https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/